Published : Nov. 26, 2018 - 09:18
North Korea's media blasted the United States on Monday for taking issue with its human rights situation, calling it a tactic to draw concessions in denuclearization talks between the two countries.
"The US is trying to draw concessions from us in talks and even to accomplish a wicked anti-republic plot," the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, said in a commentary.
(Yonhap)
"The US is saying that the nuclear issue serves as a hindrance to North Korea-US relations, but even if the issue should be resolved, it would continue to take issue with human rights and come up with other additional conditions so as to force us to change our system as it requires," it added.
The newspaper demanded the US stop making such "useless" efforts, realize the "changed strategic status" of North Korea and "act reasonably."
It made the accusations by citing mounting criticism in Washington of the miserable human rights situation in the North, including a report compiled by Human Rights Watch on prevalent rape and sexual violence against women in the reclusive state.
A United Nations panel recently adopted a resolution calling for accountability for gross human rights violations in North Korea. It is expected to pass the U.N. General Assembly next month for the 14th consecutive year.
On Sunday, Meari, a North Korean propaganda website, slammed South Korea for joining in the U.N. adoption of the resolution, saying that it runs counter to the improvement of inter-Korean relations.
Nuclear talks between the US and North Korea have been almost stalemated since their historic June summit in Singapore in which the North agreed to complete denuclearization.
North Korea has long been accused of gross human rights violations, a charge it denies as a US-led attempt to topple its regime. (Yonhap)